Dash-brace.



B.. L. NOTMAN.

DASH BBAGB.

APPLICATION FILED 12613.17, 19os.

Patented Jan. 17, 1911.

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ROBERT Il. NOTMAN, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIG'NOR TO MCKINNON DASHCOMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

DASH-BRACE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 17, 1911.

Application led February 17, 1908. Serial No. 416,172.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. NOTMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Dash-Braces, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a brace for the dashes ofvehicles which can be readily attached to the dash and Which, when inposition thereon, will not detract from the neat and smooth appearanceof the leather or other covering of the dash and will serve to hold thedash rmly in place on the body of the vehicle.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of thefront end of a vehicle body having a dash provided with braces embodyingthe invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical cross section of thesame. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the same, the leatherof the dasl being removed to show the brace.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the body of the vehicle, a the front wall thereof, B a dashframe secured thereto, and C a covering of leather or other suitablematerial for the Same. The frame B is of usual construction and consistsof side uprights l) and top and bottom connecting rails b1 and b2. Anysuitable means may be employed for securing this frame to the body ofthe vehicle. In the construction shown, the bottom rail b2 is providednear its ends with the usual lengthwise slots o3 having beveled edgesfor engagement with the head (Z of a bolt D. This bolt passes throughthe front wall a of the vehicle body and engages at its inner end aniron strap E which is secured to the inner side of the vehicle body. Anut e holds the bolt in engagement with this strap. The slots 3 are ofsufhcient length to permit the bolts D to be adjusted lengthwise of thedash in accordance with the size and construction of the vehicle body towhich they are to be secured.

The side uprights of the dash frame are provided with inwardlyprojecting lugs or ears F which lie in the vertical plane of the dashand have suitable slots f extending horizontally or transverselytherein.

Gr represents a dash brace which is secured. at its lower end to thevehicle body by the bolt D, the brace being arranged at the inner end ofthe bolt adjacent to the strap E. 'Ihe brace is provided at its upper ordash engaging end with an upwardlyextending toe portion g adapted toenter the slot in the lug F and engage the outer or front side of thelug above this slot, and with a downwardly-extending heel portion gadapted to engage the inner or back side of this lug below the slot. Thebrace is thus rmly interlocked with the lug F and serves to hold theframe of the dash securely against any forward or backward movement.

The slot 7 is of sufficient length to permit of variations in theposition of the toe portion g therein in accordance with the position ofthe bolt D by which the lower end of the brace is secured, and isbeveled or countersunk on its outer or front side to form a depressedseat for this toe portion so that, when the latter is in positiontherein, it will lie flush with the frame of the dash and will notprotrude or project beyond the same and in any way mar the appearance ofthe front of the dash.

The covering C completely surrounds the dash frame on both sides thereofand the dash with its covering is constructed separate from the brace.It is thus possible to secure the brace to the dash after the latter hasbeen placed in position on the vehicle body. To do this, a suitableopening or slot c is cut in the covering of the dash on its inner sideopposite the point where the upper end of the brace will engage the slotand the toe portion of the brace is then inserted through this openinginto engagement with the slot f in the frame. This can be done withoutdisturbing or marring the covering of the dash, and this enables thecover to be completely secured on the dash at the factory and the dashesand braces to be shipped separately.

I claim as my invention:

The combination with the frame of a vehicle dash having a transverseslot, of a brace adapted to be secured at its lower end to the vehiclebody and having at its upper end a toe portion adapted to be insertedinto said slot and to bear against the front side of the frzune abovesaid slot and a heel Witness my hand n the presence of tWo portoxfladaped to beer agaclns the rear subscribing Witnesses.

side o said rame below sai S ot anc a cover for both sides of Said'framehavng ROBERT L' NOTMAN' an opening on its inner side through whichWitnesses:

said tie portion extends, substantially as EDWARD (1I-IARD,

set forth. C. B. HORNBECK.

